Walsall 1 Swindon 0 - Report and pictures

A late goal from Joe Edwards saw Walsall return to winning ways in League One with a narrow victory over relegation threatened Swindon.

The defender netted with just five minutes remaining at the Banks's Stadium to end a run that had seen Jon Whitney's side go six matches without a victory.

In what was an open and entertaining encounter, both sides had chances to claim all three points with Jason McCarthy having an effort cleared of the line for the Saddlers and Kieron Morris and Amadou Bakayoko going close.

For Swindon, the impressive Ben Gladwin thought he had put his side ahead with a glancing header moments before Edwards' strike.

But in the end it was Edwards' third goal of the campaign that proved the difference – with the result lifting the Saddlers up to 13th in the table.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney kept faith with the team that secured a 1-1 draw at West Midlands rivals Shrewsbury on Good Friday.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 3-5-2 formation with Craig MacGillivray in goal and Bakayoko partnering Andreas Makris up front.

Swindon, under the guidance of boss Luke Williams, lined up in a midfield diamond system with Nicky Ajose joined by Jonathan Obika up top.

The Robins entered the game sitting two points adrift of safety and with just three League One games left to play.

It was Walsall though who made a flying start to the match with Whitney's men coming close to breaking the deadlock three times in the opening two minutes.

First, Jason McCarthy met a low Kieron Morris cross with the wing-back seeing his effort expertly hacked off the line by Ben Gladwin before Isaiah Osbourne fired the loose ball straight at Lawrence Vigouroux.

Then, just seconds later, Bakayoko rose highest to meet a deep Joe Edwards's cross but the striker's flicked header sailed inches over the bar.

Swindon responded with Fankaty Dabo firing inches wide after being granted too much space on the edge of the box.

Gladwin then went on a mazy run that saw him trick his way past three defenders before seeing an arrowed low drive kept out with a brilliant one-handed stop from MacGillivray.

The Saddlers had started like a steam train but it was Swindon who were in control as the clocked ticked towards the half hour mark.

And they threatened once again when Gladwin brushed off a challenge from Adam Chambers to find Obika in the box.

The striker cut inside Matt Preston and arrowed a strike at goal only for James O'Connor to bravely fling himself in front of the ball to block.

Walsall hit back with a swift counter ending with Morris hitting a fierce drive straight at Vigouroux.

What had been an entertaining and open game then became much more cagey as half-time approached with both sides struggling to create clear cut chances.

But it was the Robins who almost got their noses in front in stoppage time when Charlie Colkett curled narrowly wide after a fine Swindon counter.

Just like in the first half, Walsall were straight at it following the re-start with Morris almost putting them ahead after 16 seconds.

After Edwards did well to hit the byline, the 22-year-old latched on to the defenders cross but dragged his shot wide when he should have hit the target.

Swindon responded by forcing a succession of corners with Obika meeting one with the top of his head when a clean connection could have put his side into the lead.

Walsall then threatened with a corner of their own – Eoghan O'Connell meeting a Morris delivery but heading straight Vigouroux.

Buoyed, the Saddlers began to pile forward with Bakayoko and Morris both going close with strikes from the edge of the box.

O'Connor then headed narrowly wide from a free-kick after McCarthy had been fouled wide on the right.

Suddenly it was all Walsall with Edwards doing well to cut into the box before curling high and wide when he should have done better.

Whitney made his first change with 20 minutes remaining, Erhun Oztumer replacing Makris. George Dobson was then introduced for Isaiah Osbourne.

It was Swindon who threatened next though with Rohan Ince firing wide from the edge of the box.

With the game now more open, Swindon almost got their noses in front when a deep cross into the box was met by man-of-match Gladwin.

But O'Connor was into the right place to get a crucial touch and divert the midfielder's glancing header wide of the post.

And that miss proved costly with Walsall going up the other end and grabbing a winner just moments later.

Oztumer's cross-field ball found Edwards with the wing-back carrying the ball into the box before arrowing a low drive beyond Vigouroux and into the net.

Walsall almost grabbed a second into three minutes of stoppage time – Bakayoko sending Oztumer clean through on goal only for the schemer to be denied by a brilliant last-ditch challenge by Ince.

Swindon then pumped balls forward in the faint hope for an equaliser but it was the Saddlers who continued to look the more dangerous with Dobson seeing a strike well blocked seconds before the final whistle.